Poaching is one of the factors that impact grouper production in Yucatán, which has not yet reached the fishing levels of yesteryear, prior to the imposition of the ban as of February 1.
José Luis Carrillo, president of the Mexican Confederation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Cooperatives (Conmecoop), said that illegal fishing has consequences for grouper production “these are much lower volumes than last year,” he said, since in December they were struggling to reach 4,000 tons, when last season it reached 5,500 (at the end of 2020).
“I think that grouper has been falling for a few years now, I estimate that for about 7 years with already alarming numbers,” said Carrillo, poaching having a special impact on volumes in the last three years.
To combat illegal fishing, Conmecoop works on a model of a community inspection and surveillance committee, which allows fishermen to collaborate formally with state and federal authorities.
In addition, in another way of tackling unregulated fishing, there is a requirement for fishermen for the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca) to start working on a fisheries management program that ensures permits and concessions.
At the federal level, the fishing organization is closely following a reform in Congress whose effect would transfer responsibility for inspection and surveillance from Conapesca to the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar).
At least until May of last year, Yucatán had only three boats and six fishing surveillance inspectors on behalf of Conapesca to combat illegal fishing in the state, according to data from the platform Pescando Datos de Causa Natura. With these resources, the authority completed 50 water courses in 2020 and 22 in the first five months of last year.
Overexploitation and climate change
Another factor in the collapse of the grouper fishery is also explained by overexploitation, Carrillo added. Since fishing continues, although population levels aim to be lower from year to year.
“The grouper has become more expensive and that has made the market ambitious. In fact, the grouper market is international, it is hardly consumed in Mexico. 90% of production goes to the United States... and it has increased grouper to very good prices for producers, but it also allows it to continue to be exploited despite low levels of capture,” he said.
Fishermen began the year dealing with a north that forced them to cease operations in ports such as Yucalpetén in Yucatán.
Carrillo commented that although the sector is contemplating such weather events, the number of hurricanes due to climate change has increased in recent years, which also affects grouper production.
“If there is an extra situation with global warming, the waters have intensified the temperature and that is also affecting the reproductive rate of all species and the grouper is no exception,” he said.
Agreement with authorities
This month, the Regional Port Authority under Semar required shipowners to comply with their respective stability books and tonnage certificate to be dispatched from the port. These documents are required to confirm the structure and navigability of ships, the newspaper Por Esto reported.
In this regard, Carrillo stated that the requirements are designed for larger fleet vessels with dimensions larger than grouper boats. He argued that while the latter are around 55 feet and still carry artisanal practices, the requirements of the Captaincy are suitable for shrimp boats, above 75 feet.
“We believe that we should be subject to a totally different regulation because of the issues we have and the characteristics of the fishing activity. Now they are asking for the tonnage, which are plans of boats and the safety booklet that we believe are documents that should not be required for fishing (grouper), but should be for much larger boats,” said Carrillo.
The president of Conmecoop emphasized that an agreement was reached with the Port Authority for the documents to be prepared by the authorities and the fishermen to pay for the documents.
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